U.S. Soccer Team to Play Canada

Brandi Chastain thinks the Algarve Cup opener for the United States against Canada won't seem like an exhibition game.

"Canada is a very strong opponent. They're a powerhouse. It will be a very serious match," Chastain said Thursday, a day before the opener.

The 10th edition of the prestigious tournament is being used by teams to prepare for the Women's World Cup, which starts in September in China. The United States, the defending World Cup champion, won the Algarve Cup in 2000 but finished fifth last year. The Americans are 16-3-8 overall in this tournament.

"I think there's a good chance of winning," Chastain said.

The U.S. team has 13 members of its 1999 World Cup roster, a group that includes Chastain, Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy.

"The team is nicely balanced," coach April Heinrichs said. "It will be an incredibly difficult road for us to advance, but at the same time we want to put our players under that pressure because that is the best way to become better."

After meeting Canada, the United States plays Norway on Sunday and Sweden on Tuesday.

This is the first game between Canada and the Americans since the final of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in November, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The United States won 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Hamm, increasing its record against the Canadians to 24-3-2.

The rest of Friday's schedule has Sweden vs. Norway in Group A; Denmark vs. France and China vs. Finland in Group B; and Portugal vs. Wales and Ireland vs. Greece in Group C.